A plover is a type of shorebird with a round body, short beak, and long legs that you might spot running along beaches or mudflats. These birds move in quick spurts, like they're playing a game of freeze tag: they dash forward, stop suddenly to grab an insect or worm, then dash again.

Plovers are found on shorelines around the world, from ocean beaches to the edges of rivers and lakes. They nest right on the ground, often in spots that blend in perfectly with sand or pebbles. Some plovers are famous for a clever defense tactic: if a predator gets too close to their nest, the parent bird will pretend to have a broken wing, flopping around dramatically to lure the danger away from their eggs.

Many species of plovers migrate thousands of miles each year, stopping at beaches along the way to rest and feed. The killdeer, with its distinctive double black neckband, is one of the most common plovers in North America.